Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

Is a return to the paddock imminent?

Zhang Tianai's thoughts were running wild, and a smile appeared on her lips, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't. In the end, she just exchanged a subtle glance with Concubine Xian and Wanwan.

"What time is it now? Where are we? How long have we been traveling?"

Zhang Tianai's words were gentle but a little anxious, and she was obviously curious about all this.

Xianfei and Wanwan also turned their eyes to Chunmei. They were also eager to know the answer. After all, they had just woken up from the dream.

Chunmei replied respectfully, "Master, the virtuous concubine, it was just after dawn, and the carriage had been traveling for a while. I woke up a little before the virtuous concubine and the masters, and only learned of this after asking the servants outside the carriage."

"Oh." Zhang Tianai responded softly and said no more.

"Master, Lady Xianfei, Miss Mu, are you hungry?" Before Chunmei finished her words, there was a slight sound outside the carriage and the curtain was gently lifted.

Emperor Murong Shuo rode on a horse and looked straight at Zhang Tianai.

Zhang Tianai was about to speak, but he spoke first: "Awake?"

Murong Shuo's gaze swept past Zhang Tianai, ignoring everyone else.

Zhang Tianai called out softly, "Your Majesty."

She thought the emperor had left alone.

Murong Shuo looked at her, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. He could clearly see that she had rested quite well, so he said nothing more. At this moment, a guard came forward and handed something to Murong Shuo. He took it and threw it into the carriage.

"Here's some food. I'm sure you're hungry, especially you. We'll discuss the rest when we get to the paddock."

Chunmei, as the only maid, quickly reached out to catch it.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Tianai glanced at the package indifferently.

Murong Shuo withdrew his gaze and rode away.

Concubine Xian and Mu Wanwan wanted to pay their respects, but seeing his attitude, they were at a loss for a moment.

"No need to bow, Concubine Xian, Wanwan, the Emperor has left."

Zhang Tianai turned around and said, with a hint of teasing in her eyes.

"Sister Xianfei, Wanwan, let's have some food. The emperor must have already eaten it." Since the emperor gave the food to them, there was no need to be polite.

Concubine Xian nodded slightly, and everyone turned their eyes to Chunmei.

Chunmei held the package in her arms and gently opened it. An enticing fragrance instantly filled the air.

"I wonder what's hidden in it. Could it be snacks?" Zhang Tianai guessed.

Chunmei shook her head slightly: "Maybe it's more than that." She vaguely sensed something.

"That's unknown." Concubine Xian and Wanwan did not guess. Since Chunmei said there was more than that, there was most likely something else.

After all, the package is in Chunmei's hands at the moment.

"Open it and take a look quickly." Zhang Tianai urged.

Everyone soon saw what was inside the package. The top layer was filled with a variety of colorful and mouth-watering snacks. Could these snacks have been brought out from the enclosure last night?

Zhang Tianai picked up a few pieces gently, and the fragrance was overwhelming. She distributed them to everyone, and everyone had a share, even Chunmei was no exception.

When it was Chunmei's turn, Zhang Tianai even personally brought the snack to her lips and motioned her to taste it.

Chunmei was slightly startled, and finally opened her mouth and took a bite.

"Eat." Zhang Tianai said with a smile, and Concubine Xian and others also echoed, asking Chunmei not to be polite.

It is rare to be able to share food in such a warm way on this carriage.

Zhang Tianai smiled slightly and looked under the package, but was surprised to find that it was a roasted golden and crispy pheasant!

Is it actually pheasant? Or is it roasted?

When did the emperor and his men hunt it? And when did they roast it?

The tempting aroma comes from this roasted chicken.

Zhang Tianai thought for a moment and understood. This place was near the enclosure, where there was plenty of prey. It was already late last night when they left the enclosure, so naturally they couldn't have brought much food with them. When they were hungry, they could just hunt a few prey and roast them.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but laugh.

Chunmei also suddenly realized: "No wonder it's still hot."

Zhang Tianai only then realized that the roast chicken had been cut into neat pieces, each piece carefully arranged. It looked like a whole chicken, but in fact it was made up of pieces of chicken that would fall apart at the slightest touch.

This way, they can just pick it up and eat it without having to bother cutting it.

"The emperor is so considerate." Zhang Tianai exclaimed sincerely.

"I'm afraid the emperor did this for his sister, Concubine Liang." Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian said jokingly.

Mu Wanwan nodded in agreement.

Chunmei also showed an expression of approval.

"What are you talking about? It makes me so embarrassed."

Zhang Tianai's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head shyly. How could she have thought that the emperor did this for her?

"No, the emperor is doing this for everyone, not just for me. These foods are gifts from the emperor to all of us."

"No, don't you see whether the emperor even looked at us just now? In the eyes of the emperor, there is only you, my sister." The virtuous concubine's joking intention was even stronger.

Mu Wanwan knew the emperor's intentions best, but she just smiled and said nothing.

Chunmei called softly, "Master."

"Okay, the emperor also has his considerations." Seeing that everyone thought so, Zhang Tianai's expression became a little complicated.

"I always thought that the emperor didn't like me." There was a hint of sadness in her words.

"How is it possible? Sister Liang Fei actually thinks like this and is sad?" Xian Fei looked at her in surprise, not knowing why she had such thoughts.

Mu Wanwan called softly, "Aunt Liangfei."

Chunmei stood silently by, knowing what her master was thinking.

Zhang Tianai said quietly, "The Emperor once said that I'm not as pretty as before."

"Where? We didn't notice it." Concubine Xian and others expressed their disagreement.

Zhang Tianai stopped talking and began to invite everyone to share the roast chicken.

Each person got a piece of chicken, which was roasted to tenderness and deliciousness, and still steaming when picked up. A light sniff and a bite were the most delicious.

The best pieces of chicken were left for Zhang Tianai, including two chicken legs.

Zhang Tianai looked at the chicken leg in her hand, then looked at everyone.

"Leave the best to Concubine Liang, you still have the little prince." Concubine Xian said with concern, her eyes fixed on her belly. Mu Wanwan and Chunmei also nodded in agreement.

"Okay." Zhang Tianai gently stroked her belly, as if she were talking to the child, letting him feel the love and care of his aunts. She ate the chicken leg, and everyone else followed suit.

There was tea in the carriage, and after eating some snacks and chicken, their lips and teeth felt a little dry. Chunmei poured a few glasses of water, and after everyone drank it, they felt full and their hunger disappeared.

My spirits were also lifted.

"How do you feel, Sister Liangfei?" asked Concubine Xian with concern.

She not only asked Zhang Tianai how she felt after eating, but also asked about her rest last night. Later that night, Zhang Tianai was obviously tired.

"I'm fine, Sister Xianfei, how about you?" Zhang Tianai asked with a smile.

Everyone said they were in good condition.

Zhang Tianai turned his gaze to Chunmei again.

Chunmei also looked at her, her eyes full of tenderness and respect.

"After we went to bed last night, I wonder how the emperor and the people outside are doing?" Xianfei suddenly remembered something and asked. After all, Zhang Tianai had the opportunity to rest in the carriage, while the emperor and the people outside were still busy.

"Yes, how are the emperor and the others?" Zhang Tianai was also curious.

The Emperor had said he would be waiting outside, so they could rest in peace. Returning to the enclosure now, they hadn't actually been far away last night, so...

"What's the situation inside the paddock?" Zhang Tianai asked this question on impulse.

"Perhaps, when we leave the enclosure, the Empress Dowager and the others have already left. I originally thought that they would go with the Emperor." There was a hint of worry in the words of Concubine Xian.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianai felt curious: "Empress Dowager? Is the Queen among them too?" She seemed to want to get more information from Concubine Xian.

However, Concubine Xian just stared out of the carriage quietly. Zhang Tianai knew that the emperor was outside the carriage at the moment, and her thoughts drifted away.

"The sudden incident last night forced the Emperor to take me away in a hurry. Afterwards, we reunited with you, Concubine Xian." There was a hint of reminiscence in Zhang Tianai's voice.

"So, we're not on the same route?" Concubine Xian's voice was low and delicate. "Perhaps, the Queen Mother and the others are on another route."

Xianfei's words betrayed an inexplicable worry, and her mind couldn't help but conjure up the mysterious woman who had saved the emperor at that crucial moment. Where was that woman now? Xianfei pondered this question in her heart, but never spoke aloud.

Zhang Tianai noticed something was wrong with Concubine Xian and asked with concern, "Concubine Xian, when the Emperor was assassinated last night, I heard someone stepped forward to save him. Who was that person?"

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian's heart was filled with emotion. She pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke, "It's true that a woman saved the Emperor, but I've never seen her in person. Few people know what happened that day. I only heard that the Emperor arranged a separate tent for her, but it seems he never visited her in person."

Zhang Tianai was inexplicably moved when she heard this. She knew that in such a chaotic world, it was rare for someone to stand up and sacrifice himself to save others.

At that moment, the carriage slowly stopped. Zhang Tianai and the others lifted the curtain and looked out. They saw Murong Shuo riding in, his voice full of authority: "We have arrived at the enclosure."

Zhang Tianai's gaze lingered on Murong Shuo for a moment, her eyes filled with a thousand words. Murong Shuo noticed her strangeness and frowned slightly: "What's wrong?"

Zhang Tianai just shook her head slightly and said nothing. Just then, a guard hurried over and reported something to Murong Shuo. Murong Shuo nodded slightly, signaling the guard to withdraw. Then, he turned and walked deeper into the enclosure.

Inside the enclosure, Eunuch An and his men came to greet him. They knelt on the ground and performed solemn greetings: "Welcome our emperor, long live the emperor!"

Murong Shuo said calmly, "Get up," and then glanced around. The enclosure was completely peaceful, as if the turmoil of last night had never occurred. The dragon tent had been rebuilt, and everything had returned to normal.

"What's the situation?" Murong Shuo asked.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch An and the others quickly reported the situation in the enclosure. Murong Shuo nodded slightly, expressing his satisfaction, and then turned and walked towards the carriage.

"Your Majesty, the carriage behind is also coming." Eunuch An saw this and hurriedly reminded.

Murong Shuo nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping over the carriages. He knew that these carriages carried the most important people in his life. He had to make proper arrangements for them, ensuring their safety and comfort.

"Let Concubine Liang and the others go into the dragon tent to rest. I'm going to take care of some matters first." Murong Shuo ordered.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch An quickly withdrew. He knew that His Majesty did not want the Queen Mother and the others to see Concubine Liang. So, he carefully arranged everything to ensure that Concubine Liang and the others' whereabouts would not be revealed.

Zhang Tianai and the others heard Eunuch An's voice and knew he had arrived. They opened the curtains and stepped out of the carriage. He smiled and saluted them: "Lady Liang and Lady Xian, please come in."

Seeing this, Zhang Tianai and the others hurriedly returned the greeting. Just then, their eyes met with Doctor Li. Doctor Li had arrived without them noticing, and his presence filled Zhang Tianai and the others with an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

"Doctor Li, are you okay?" Zhang Tianai asked with concern.

Doctor Li smiled and replied, "Not bad." His eyes revealed a calmness and composure, as if all the troubles in the world had nothing to do with him.

Seeing this, Concubine Xian and Mu Wanwan couldn't help but ponder in their hearts. They were not familiar with Doctor Li, but from his words and deeds, they could sense an indescribable temperament and charm.

Seeing this, Zhang Tianai whispered to Concubine Xian and the others about Doctor Li. Her words, filled with emotion and reminiscence, spoke of how she met Doctor Li. Concubine Xian and Mu Wanwan were even more impressed by Doctor Li after hearing this.

However, at this moment, Concubine Xian and Mu Wanwan seemed a little absent-minded. Their eyes searched for something in the crowd.

Seeing this, Zhang Tianai couldn't help but feel curious. She wanted to ask but was afraid of disturbing them, so she just followed them silently.

Eunuch An led them into the dragon tent. The tent was spacious, bright, and elegantly decorated. Concubine Xian and Mu Wanwan glanced around, their gazes simultaneously landing on the carriages parked outside.

"Who are you looking for?" Zhang Tianai couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xian was startled. She hadn't expected her misbehavior to be discovered by her younger sister, Concubine Liang. She glanced at Wan'er, who was also looking at her worriedly. She knew in her heart that Wan'er was also looking for the person she had been thinking about—Wei Qian.

However, Concubine Xian didn't want her sister, Concubine Liang, to worry about them. So, she shook her head gently and said, "Nothing, just thinking about something."

Zhang Tianai, seeing this, though still puzzled, didn't ask any further questions. She knew everyone had their own secrets and concerns. So, she quietly followed Concubine Xian and the others into the dragon tent.

Outside the dragon tent, after a careful look, one can still find some traces left over from last night, but those traces have become blurred and difficult to identify.

Entering the inner room, Zhang Tianai looked around. Everything remained the same, unchanged. They slowly sat down, and Eunuch An approached them, asking them with concern what they needed. Did they want to rest for a while, or did they have any other instructions?

"What happened last night, Eunuch An?" Zhang Tianai asked softly.

Everyone's attention instantly focused on Eunuch An.

Eunuch An nodded slightly and spoke slowly, "Just as the Emperor expected, there are no other disturbances. The rebels have all been brought to justice and the situation is under control. As for the rest of the details, the ladies will know later. I still have important matters to attend to. If the Concubine Xian needs anything, please return to your tent at any time. Everything has been properly arranged. However, it may be more appropriate for the Concubine Xian to return later."

"What do you mean?" Concubine Xian frowned slightly.

Zhang Tianai was also full of curiosity.

"The Emperor does not want Empress Liang and Empress Xian to stay here for long..." Before Eunuch An finished speaking, the two of them understood.

They smiled at each other, and each had their own plan in mind.

"I understand." Zhang Tianai responded softly.

Xian Fei and others also nodded.

Seeing this, Eunuch An said softly, "Ladies, please rest in peace."

"Eunuch An, are all the people serving the emperor safe and sound?" Concubine Xian suddenly asked.

Mu Wanwan's heart tightened when she heard this.

Zhang Tianai keenly captured this detail, but remained calm.

"Everything is fine." Eunuch An's answer was concise and clear.

The virtuous concubine's expression was calm and composed.

Mu Wanwan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"The Empress Dowager and the others must have returned, right?" Zhang Tianai spoke again. Concubine Xian and the others all listened attentively, waiting for Eunuch An's answer.

"I guess that's the case. I'll need to go and make the arrangements." After saying this, Eunuch An turned and left.

"Sister Xianfei, Wanwan, I'm sorry to trouble you to wait here with me." Zhang Tianai looked at the two of them, his eyes full of apology.

The virtuous concubine said softly, "It would be better if we could know more details."

Waiting here for the Emperor's return, perhaps we can find out something. After the Emperor returns, he will definitely discuss it with Concubine Liang in detail, and then she will also know the man's recent situation and what exactly happened to Wei Qian.

Mu Wanwan was also thinking about it in her heart.

Zhang Tianai looked at them quietly.

Outside the dragon tent, the carriages of the Queen Mother, Empress, and others slowly returned. Gazing at the familiar carriage ahead, they couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity, eager to find out who it was.